Nuggets Sign Notre Dame`s Ellis

DENVER — LaPhonso Ellis, chosen fifth overall by the Denver Nuggets in last June`s college draft, has signed a five-year contract with the team worth more than $13 million.

The Nuggets now have all players under contract four days before the start of training camp.

``I feel like a burden`s been taken off,`` Nuggets General Manager Bernie Bickerstaff said after the signing Sunday night.

Ellis will be paid in excess of $2.6 million per season on the average, slightly less than Nuggets center Dikembe Mutombo`s annual average of $2.75 million. Bickerstaff said during the negotiations he would insist Mutombo remain the team`s highest-paid player.

Ellis, a 6-foot-8-inch power forward, is a likely starter this season.